A sight never before seen in Manukau, the first ever MIT students graduation parade through the streets of Manukau.
A tradition upheld by other educational organisations, however, it's a first for graduates of MIT to hold a graduation parade.
Kukupa Tirikatene of MIT says, “It's fitting that we celebrate our students because they are the generation that will lead us into tomorrow.”
MIT Māori Advisor Dr Wahineata Smith says, “This is the first year we have held a parade for our MIT students in South Auckland. It's a very special occasion for us, to share with our community and families the successes gained during their educational journey.”
The streets of Manukau echoed with the sound of nearly two hundred strong, with the Māori students graduates numbering 120.
Smith says, “We're impressed with those numbers. Ngāpuhi are leading the count, followed by students of Waikato descent, followed by Ngāti Porou.”
MIT's faculty hope to hold another graduation parade next year, but bigger and better.